where/how to travel for personal growth?

[edwardmccaughan]

Hey guys, I'm thinking of going travelling for a few months, but I'm trying to decide where- I'm not a huge fan of doing touristy things, so what suggestions do people have for places to go and things to do that will push you and help you grow as a person?

It's a deliberately vague question, so answers can be places, events, communities, schools to go to, or missions and goals to have while travelling

For background, I've travelled a bit before and have a pretty high threshold for weirdness, I've got a reasonable amount of funds, but not a huge amount, I'll be going solo and I'm starting from the uk in a month or two.

What have you done before? What have you always wanted to do? what do you do already that you think people should come do to?

to give you ideas of how I'm thinking so far, here some potential options so far:

• spend a while at a nudist beach to learn to be comfortable with accepting people
• volunteer the third world and gain some perspective on true poverty
• go to auroville (an intential community in india) and learn from their attempt to build a semi-utopia
• go to london and spend a month solid training PUA with the seduction community
• go to the herrang dance camp in sweden (a solid month of 24/7 swing dance lessons and socials with the best of the global swing community)
• spend a month at a taoist/buddhist monastary meditating

[Orionjoel]

This sounds like it could be a fairly amazing experience. I am going to be heading off on a simialr trip around march. However I will be at least this time making many more stops in different locations, having not travelled much before I want to see some things from a lot of places.

I think that I would be endeavouring to capture the experience, and see how what I experience, can be shared with others in a shared personal growth experience.

[Bizarre Jester]

Originally Posted by edwardmccaughan

to give you ideas of how I'm thinking so far, here some potential options so far:

• spend a while at a nudist beach to learn to be comfortable with accepting people
• volunteer the third world and gain some perspective on true poverty
• go to auroville (an intential community in india) and learn from their attempt to build a semi-utopia
• go to london and spend a month solid training PUA with the seduction community
• go to the herrang dance camp in sweden (a solid month of 24/7 swing dance lessons and socials with the best of the global swing community)
• spend a month at a taoist/buddhist monastary meditating

I like the nude beach idea
Your other ideas sound like a big commitment. A month at a monastery sounds like it would be a cool experience, but also a big commitment. Perhaps that is not an issue for as you are willing to take a few months off from your usual life.
What I might do is go into the country for a day, probably in a somewhat deserted cabin, where I can meditate.

[aelle]

- Do a through hike of a long distance hiking trail (typically coast to coast or border to border trails)
- Go live in a country that is victim of heavy stereotypes and discrimination (Iran maybe? Saudi Arabia? Israel?), especially if you feel you have some preconcieved ideas yourself about its population.
- Experience your traditional holidays outside of the way you know them (I've lived Christmas both in a Muslim country and in Japan.... very interesting).
- Full immersion in a very different language

Entering a serious relationship with someone from a different culture is a massive growth experience, but I wouldn't go about actively planning that one.

[Johnny Skosnik]

This may give you some ideas.

[prototype]

Travelling for personal growth:

1. If there is any nationality, region or race you don't like, go and spend a few weeks living with them.

2. Wherever you go, avoid other travellers, and especially the ones who come from your country, and the ones who are fluent in your first language. Find ways to interact with "ordinary" local people as much as possible.

[ChrisGinsburg]

Be homeless for a month. I would wager that you would grow in ways completely unmatched to any planned trip.

[TaritaB]

Originally Posted by edwardmccaughan

[*]volunteer the third world and gain some perspective on true poverty[/LIST]

All your ideas are great...but that's the one that is closest to my own heart. I did this many years ago (Aug 2001-April 2003) and spent the majority of that time at an orphanage in rural Honduras. It was completely altering. I knew it would be...but truly had no idea in how many ways and how deeply. Living as members of the community was...is...very very different than visiting/staying for a short term as a guest/visitor/tourist. The experience doesn't compare and it is so very worth it.

I work with children here in the US...and it's crazy the raging debates you can find online about whether or not to allow a child to have white bread (instead of whole wheat), or how old they should be before they have potato chips, or whether or not they should ever have juice. I'm not kidding...it's CRAZY how irate people can get over that.

But, when you get brought a 4 year old little boy who weighs in at 13 lbs, 8 oz because there hasn't been enough food to feed him in a very long time...and when you hold that tiny, fragile, bald little boy in your arms...you REALLy realize how ridiculous those arguments are. When nearly every mother you meet has lost at least one child to preventable, hunger related causes...you're just grateful that there's bread to feed a child.

Life altering.

But, be prepared to come home...because most of your friends and loved ones will NOT have been altered and you'll see them very differently, perhaps even unfairly. The adjustment coming home is far greater than the adjustment to wherever you go.

Good luck!

[Angelique]

Originally Posted by TaritaB

All your ideas are great...but that's the one that is closest to my own heart. I did this many years ago (Aug 2001-April 2003) and spent the majority of that time at an orphanage in rural Honduras. It was completely altering. I knew it would be...but truly had no idea in how many ways and how deeply. Living as members of the community was...is...very very different than visiting/staying for a short term as a guest/visitor/tourist. The experience doesn't compare and it is so very worth it.

I work with children here in the US...and it's crazy the raging debates you can find online about whether or not to allow a child to have white bread (instead of whole wheat), or how old they should be before they have potato chips, or whether or not they should ever have juice. I'm not kidding...it's CRAZY how irate people can get over that.

But, when you get brought a 4 year old little boy who weighs in at 13 lbs, 8 oz because there hasn't been enough food to feed him in a very long time...and when you hold that tiny, fragile, bald little boy in your arms...you REALLy realize how ridiculous those arguments are. When nearly every mother you meet has lost at least one child to preventable, hunger related causes...you're just grateful that there's bread to feed a child.

Life altering.

But, be prepared to come home...because most of your friends and loved ones will NOT have been altered and you'll see them very differently, perhaps even unfairly. The adjustment coming home is far greater than the adjustment to wherever you go.

Good luck!

Did you join the Peace Corps?

[Green Lady]

Originally Posted by TaritaB

All your ideas are great...but that's the one that is closest to my own heart. I did this many years ago (Aug 2001-April 2003) and spent the majority of that time at an orphanage in rural Honduras. It was completely altering. I knew it would be...but truly had no idea in how many ways and how deeply. Living as members of the community was...is...very very different than visiting/staying for a short term as a guest/visitor/tourist. The experience doesn't compare and it is so very worth it.

I work with children here in the US...and it's crazy the raging debates you can find online about whether or not to allow a child to have white bread (instead of whole wheat), or how old they should be before they have potato chips, or whether or not they should ever have juice. I'm not kidding...it's CRAZY how irate people can get over that.

But, when you get brought a 4 year old little boy who weighs in at 13 lbs, 8 oz because there hasn't been enough food to feed him in a very long time...and when you hold that tiny, fragile, bald little boy in your arms...you REALLy realize how ridiculous those arguments are. When nearly every mother you meet has lost at least one child to preventable, hunger related causes...you're just grateful that there's bread to feed a child.

Life altering.

But, be prepared to come home...because most of your friends and loved ones will NOT have been altered and you'll see them very differently, perhaps even unfairly. The adjustment coming home is far greater than the adjustment to wherever you go.

Good luck!

I'm speechless, so I'll just say: thank you for sharing.

[Lakshyayidhi Lakshmihi]

I recommend backpacking across Europe, although I guess I did not backpack. I rented a car. Drove from Dusseldorf up to the Netherlands down through Brussels, France, into Italy. Rented a house there for 2 weeks in Bagnoregio, lovely hill town. Then drove up through Switzerland and back into Germany. Fun! I think I saw more of the rural parts of Europe than I would have with a rail pass.

Consider Help Exchange: free volunteer work exchange abroad Australia New Zealand Canada Europe and wwoofing.

I am a big proponent of travel. I'm gearing up for a round of travels this year with my toddler in tow. Intense! Learn grow seek know.

I'm fittin' ta work on a farm in Jamaica for a couple of weeks in march.

[AlmostGodess]

Originally Posted by Lakshyayidhi Lakshmihi

Consider Help Exchange: free volunteer work exchange abroad Australia New Zealand Canada Europe and wwoofing.

Thank you for the link, it looks great!

[AlmostGodess]

A very touching story! I am sure it will make a difference to many of us

Originally Posted by TaritaB

All your ideas are great...but that's the one that is closest to my own heart. I did this many years ago (Aug 2001-April 2003) and spent the majority of that time at an orphanage in rural Honduras. It was completely altering. I knew it would be...but truly had no idea in how many ways and how deeply. Living as members of the community was...is...very very different than visiting/staying for a short term as a guest/visitor/tourist. The experience doesn't compare and it is so very worth it.

I work with children here in the US...and it's crazy the raging debates you can find online about whether or not to allow a child to have white bread (instead of whole wheat), or how old they should be before they have potato chips, or whether or not they should ever have juice. I'm not kidding...it's CRAZY how irate people can get over that.

But, when you get brought a 4 year old little boy who weighs in at 13 lbs, 8 oz because there hasn't been enough food to feed him in a very long time...and when you hold that tiny, fragile, bald little boy in your arms...you REALLy realize how ridiculous those arguments are. When nearly every mother you meet has lost at least one child to preventable, hunger related causes...you're just grateful that there's bread to feed a child.

Life altering.

But, be prepared to come home...because most of your friends and loved ones will NOT have been altered and you'll see them very differently, perhaps even unfairly. The adjustment coming home is far greater than the adjustment to wherever you go.

Good luck!

[TaritaB]

Originally Posted by Angelique

Did you join the Peace Corps?

Nope. Mission work. The orphanage is an independent Catholic aposolate that I found through an organization that helps organizations find volunteers (long and short term). I think the Peace Corps would be an awesome experience, though.

[Angelique]

Originally Posted by TaritaB

Nope. Mission work. The orphanage is an independent Catholic aposolate that I found through an organization that helps organizations find volunteers (long and short term). I think the Peace Corps would be an awesome experience, though.

Yeah, I think so too. Thanks for sharing.

[NewSimon]

Hi, I've been looking at HelpX (Help Exchange: free volunteer work exchange abroad Australia New Zealand Canada Europe) does anyone have any comment, experience of this or anything similar as I'm contemplating packing up and spending some time abroad doing homestay type work. Thanks.

[adambenedetto]

I am also traveling for growth. It is amazing how much it helps you let go of old patterns and allows you to see yourself more clearly. Anywhere new will help you. There is something to learn about yourself and the world everywhere you look. I would travel by intuition more than logic. What I have noticed is that my expectations are usually wrong. The best experiences have come from following the pull that I feel toward an area of the world.